Floor joist



May 10, 1938. R. w. GOETZ FLOOR JOIST Filed Dec. 24, 1956 INVENT O R M/ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1938 2,11 3% UNITED STATES PATENT oFFmE IFLOOR JOIST Rowland W. Goetz, Mount Lebanon, Pa. Application December24, 1936, Serial No. 117,505 Claims. (Cl. 72- -66) My invention relatesto building construction, region of mergence of the two flanges 2a, 2awith and consists in a structural member formed printhe stem 2 of the T.(Manifestly, by modification cipally of sheet metal and concrete. Thestrucin detail, the beam 2 may take the form of other tural member maybe employed in the construcstructural beam sections.) tion of walls,partitions, and roofs, and is par- With the aid of suitable forms, jigs,and presses, 5 ticularly adapted for the construction of floors. thebody I is fashioned. of two or more elongate In the followingspecification, a consideration of sheets of metal secured along theirmeeting edges, this particular adaptation will afiord to those or ofsingle sheet, as illustrated in Fig. II. In skilled in the art a clearunderstanding of the shaping the sheet metal, the central channel Idwider field of application which is within the amis first formed; next,the sheet is folded down- 10 bit of the invention. ward on oppositesides, forming round corners 5 The object of the invention is to reducethe cost and 6 which are equispaced from and parallel of buildings,particularly homes. I aim to proto the mouth of said channel, and thenthe downvide a fire-proof building in which the labor of wardlyextending limbs of the sheet are folded inerection is reduced to aminimum, and in which Ward on lines I and 8, as indicated by the arrows5 the required strength and durability are obtained in Fig. II, and theedges If, If of the sheet are in a construction of relatively lightweight. secured in overlapping position against the bot- Other objectswill present themselves in the entom of the channel Id, as indicated inFig. I. suing description, Rivets, or tie-wires, or other knownfastening In the accompanying drawing Fig. I is a fragmeans, may beemployed in securing the overlapon mentary, isometric view of astructuralmember ping edges of the sheet in such position. Conembodyingthe invention; Fig. Ia is a view in end crete is then cast into thechannel Id and molded elevation of the member, illustrating certainmodupon the upper wall Ic, Ic of the sheet metal ificatlons in detail;Fig. II is a fragmentary, 150- body, forming the integral T beam 2, 2a,2a, demetric view of the sheet metal body portion of the scribed above.member in course of fabrication; and Fig. III The shaping of the sheetmetal, and the castis an isometric view of a section of flooring, coningand molding of the concrete beam or joist, structed of the structuralmembers of the invenwill ordinarily be completed in the shop, but it istion. contemplated that the fabrication of my struc- Referring to thedrawing, my structural memtural m m m y e performed, i r p e 30 her Mconsists in an elongate, tubular body I in- 1y or entirely, n the field-Ins me Cases, I Will eluding a concrete joist or beam 2. The tubularleave the overlapp edges f, f 0f t e S eet body is fashioned of expandedsheet ste l, and, free, until after the structural member (M) has asshown in Fig. I, is of general rectangular shap been assembled in a unitof construction, wherein cross section. Side walls I?) extend upward by,for reasons presently to appear, the bottom from the opposite edges ofthe fiat bottom wall flaps (Id) of sheet metal may be swung aside and laof the body I, and the top wall I0 is medial1y access obtained toregions W, W within. depressed, forming a channel Id that divides the Inaccordance with the invention the sheet body from one end to the otherinto two ducts metal of which the body I is formed is expanded or waysW. In this channel a filler of concrete is sheet metal of well-knownsort, including within 40 cast and hardened, providing the beam or joist2. its body a myriad of recesses or holes, which in Conveniently, ametal reinforcing rod 3 is emthe casting and shaping of the beam 2, 2a,2a are bodied in. the concrete, to increase the tensile filled withconcrete. The integration of the cast strength of the cast joist. andhardened concrete with the sheet metal is Advantageously, the joist 2 isof specialized thus rendered mechanically secure throughout the shape incross-section' In this case the filler of metal-engaged surfaces of thebeam- The sheet concrete is laterally extended from the channel metalwalls of the body I, indeed, provide metal- Id, that is, the concrete islaterally extended over lic reinforcement for the beam, and, as willpresthe top wall of the body I, in such manner as to ently appear, itbecomes possible to apply and provide a joist (2, 2a, 2a) of T-section.The two secure plaster or concrete immediately to the top portions la,la of the top wall of the body I slope and bottom faces of the completedstructural downward from the horizontal toward the central member M. Inthe use of such expanded metal, channel Id, and merge on small arcs Iewith the I obtain economy, strength, and durability in a vertical sidewalls of such channel, whereby the structure of relatively light weight.cast beam is of relatively great strength in the It may be remarked thatI employ concrete of good results.

a so-called dry mix. The aggregate of the concrete may consist of knownparticulate materials in which the average particle size equals, orexceeds to slight degree, the size of the openings in the expanded sheetmetal. I have used haydite a known aggregate formed of vitrifiedclay-with Of course, the inner surfaces of the expanded sheet metal bodyi may be lined with paper (not shown, but a known expedient in the metallathing art), to the end that a concrete of wet mix and finer aggregatemay be used, without undue loss of concrete through openings in thesheet metal while the beam 2, 2a, 2a is being cast.

I shall now consider the manner in which a plurality of my structuralmember M is employed in the construction of a floor. The members arelaid side by side, as illustrated in Fig. III, with the opposite ends ofthe members supported upon the foundation or frame elements of thebuilding (not shown), in the same general manner that the floor beams ofthe usual building are sup: ported. It will be observed that theside-walls lb, 5 b of the members M are inclined to the vertical, so asto provide open channels HJd between the adjacent members M in theassembly. Indeed, the lower corners iii and 8B of the sheet metal bodiesof the members M are so shaped that the channels lild between theassembled members approximate the joist-defining channels Id within themembers.

The members M may be laid readily and quickly, and, when the desiredassembly has been effected, concrete is cast and solidified in thechannels I003, thereby providing beams that rigidly integrate andreinforce the assembled members.

The ends of the members M will not ordinarily abut the side Wall of thebuilding in which they are installed-an interval of one or more inchesmay be provided between the face of the wall and the ends of themembers. In the casting of the beams 29 this interval is filled withconcrete, providing greater strength and more secure integration of themembers in the regions in which they are vertically supported.

As shown in Fig. III of the drawing, the concrete cast between theassembled members M may be in excess of the amount required to fill thechannels Hid, so that the exposed portions of horizontal walls lc, loand concrete flanges 2a, 2a shall lie within a monolithic layer 4 ofconcrete. The upper layer d of concrete may be smoothed and dressed, toprovide a floor surface S of unbroken continuity and uniform finish. Insuch manner, a rigidly integrated and metallic reinforced concrete flooris provided, and the surface S may comprise the final floor surface, orit may carry another and more elaborate floor finishing.

If desired, wooden nailing strips or the like may in known way beembodied in the upper layer 4 of concrete, or in the tops of beams 2,2a, 2a initially provided in the members M.

It is important to note that the horizontal bottom walls Ia. of theassembled and integrated members M extend in common plane, and provideperfect support for a coating of plaster t. Thus, the structure providesa sturdy fioor; if the floor be for an upper room in a building, thelower surface of structure may be plastered, providing the ceiling forthe room below.

It will be perceived that the regions W, W within the structural membersM comprise fire proof ducts. In these ducts the electric wiring and pipelines of the building may be housed.

As mentioned in the foregoing specification, the operlapping edges If,if of the sheet metal in individual members M may be left free, so thatduring the course of floor construction the basal flaps (in) of themembers M may be swung downward, to permit the introduction and assemblyof wiring and plumbing. This matter of wiring and plumbing may beattended to either before or after the assembled members M have beenintegrated with the applied concrete 4, 20. After the wiring andplumbing has been installed, the edges If, If may be tied in positionagainst the bases of channels id. The structure is then ready to receivethe coating of plaster 6, as mentioned.

In Fig. Ia, I illustrate that the flanges 2a, 2a of the concrete beamembodied in each structural member M may be laterally extended, to coverthe entire upper surface of the sheet metal body I.

Fig. Ia is illustrative of another refinement. Advantageously, I providemeans at the opposite ends of the cast beam 2, 2a, 2a for supporting thebeam, and also the sheet metal body I against lateral tilting when thestructure is first placed upon floor supports in the course ofconstruction. Such means may consist, as here shown, in two verticalflanges 20, 2c of concrete, two inches in thickness, more or less, andof the form in end elevation illustrated in Fig. Ia.

While I contem late that the sheet metal body or skeleton of mystructural member may be of uninterrupted continuity from end to end, itis important to note that, alternately, it may be formed in a pluralityof sections L, as indicated in Fig. I. The sections L, being ofrelatively short length, are easier to manufacture, and the apparatusrequired for manufacture is simpler and less costly than otherwise wouldbe the case. a member M of specified length, the required number ofskeleton sections L are arranged in end to end alignment,and concrete iscast to provide a beam continuous throughout the length of the assembledsections L. The concrete forming the beam securely integrates theseveral sections L, and thus the desired structural member is provided.I

My particular use of expanded sheetmetal and concrete in the provisionof a skeleton structural member is believed to understood that manymodifications, refinements, and elaborations of the structure disclosedmay be provided without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A structural member for the construction of floors or walls, saidmember comprising expanded sheet metal formed into an elongate skeleton,a beam secured in assembly with the expanded sheet metal of which saidskeleton is formed, and means provided at the opposite ends of themember for reinforcing the structure and inhibiting tilting of themember, as described.

2. A preformed structural member for the construction of floors orwalls, said member comprising a tubular skeleton of expanded sheet metalcarrying a preformed beam of concrete molded and solidified in secureassembly with and reinforced by the reticulate sheet metal body of theskeleton.

3. A preformed structural member for the con-. struction of floors orwalls, said member comprising a sheet of expanded metal folded into atubular skeleton of approximately rectangular cross-section, a channelpressed into the top wall be broadly new, and it of said skeleton, and abeam of concrete cast in said channel and integrated with the expandedsheet metal, the bottom of said channel including said beam providingsupport and reinforcement for the expanded sheet metal bottom wall ofsaid skeleton intermediate its lateral extent.

4. A preformed structural member for the construction of floors orwalls, said member comprising a sheet of expanded metal folded into atubular skeleton and including a concrete beam molded upon the surfacesand engaging in the reticulations of said expanded sheet metal, aportion of said sheet in the assembled structure providing a flapangularly flexible about one of the folds for giving access to theinterior of said tubular skeleton.

5. A preformed structural member for the construction of floors orwalls, said member comprising a sheet of expanded metal folded into atubular skeleton of approximately rectangular crosssection, a channelpressed into the top wall of said skeleton, and a beam of concrete castin said channel and integrated with the expanded sheet metal, the bottomof said channel including said beam providing support and reinforcementfor the expanded sheet skeleton intermediate its lateral extent, saidbottom wall comprising two flaps normally meeting against the bottom ofsaid channel and movable angularly from such normal position to giveaccess to the interior ROWLAND W. GOETZ.

metal bottom wall of said 10 of said structural member. 15

